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Strengthening Support of the Illinois Technology Industry, ITDA Extends Legacy Grant to ITA

ITA to Provide Strategic Support to More Than 650 Illinois Technology Members

CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwire - September 14, 2009) - In a move to expand services to the Illinois
technology community, the Illinois Technology Association (ITA) today
agreed to accept a grant from the Illinois Technology Development Alliance
(ITDA). The ITDA grant will enable the ITA to extend a greater breadth of
programs and events to support Illinois' technology industry. In addition,
the joining of missions between the two organizations will reduce
duplication of services and provide a single source of support for a wide
breadth of technology companies in Illinois.

"ITDA has always been about strengthening the Illinois region's
technology-based economy," said John Noel, ITDA President. "We have done
that by making entrepreneurs better, faster and smarter with education,
networking and resources that help them grow businesses. The ITA has a
great plan for doing even more for entrepreneurs, so we're excited to see
our tradition continue and gain momentum under the ITA banner."

Under the grant agreement, members of both organizations will benefit from
ITA's robust set of programs supporting Illinois technology companies, as
well as ITDA's programs that provide expertise and contacts to technology
entrepreneurs. Bringing together the respective programs and members will
provide a stronger platform on which to deliver expanded services to the
Illinois technology community.

"In discussing the landscape of organizations designed to support Illinois
technology firms, our respective boards found that ITA could complement
ITDA program offerings," said ITA President Fred Hoch. "We look forward to
continuing and enhancing ITDA's programs for entrepreneurs."

"This is an opportunity to align two organizations that have complementary
missions, resulting in a stronger set of tools and support to the
technology community," explained Terry Howerton, Chairman of ITA.

About the ITA

The Illinois Technology Association
(ITA) represents the interests of a diverse membership of
more than 550 companies in Illinois that create, deploy and utilize
information technology as a core part of their organization. By connecting
members with industry peers and participants, providing the latest
strategic information, market research and critical market insight and by
promoting key thought leaders to raise visibility and gain a greater market
awareness and presence, ITA is focused on building and developing the
Illinois technology community through collaboration. Additional information
is available at www.illinoistech.org.

About the ITDA

The Illinois Technology Development
Alliance delivers commercialization services to entrepreneurs who have
innovative ideas, inventions, and intellectual property that can be
developed into scalable, technology businesses. They apply expertise and
leverage their national network of contacts, relationships, and resources
to help high technology businesses in Illinois and the surrounding regions
gain traction and grow.